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IDF Europe 2012 World Diabetes Day

Healthy Eating, Healthy Living

Obesity and lack of physical activity are important risk factors in the onset of type 2 diabetes. As the diabetes epidemic escalates, with 55 million people living with diabetes in Europe, a healthy attitude towards food and physical activity is imperative.

For this reason, IDF Europe –in collaboration with Simon Busuttil MEP- organized a week of awareness-raising activities around the theme “Healthy Eating, Healthy Living” on the 3 sites of the European Parliament (Brussels, Luxembourg and Strasbourg) to celebrate World Diabetes (14 November).

In doing so, IDF Europe partnered with Sodexo, the catering services of the EU Parliament. The campaign included a healthy, balanced dish (“vitality dish”) on offer at the restaurants of the European Parliament all week from 12 to 16 November. Staff eating at the restaurants also received special placemats with recommendations on healthy lifestyles.

In Brussels, IDF Europe also had a stand during the whole week where visitors could receive information on diabetes, the extent of the epidemic in Europe, and the link with EU food policy. Dieticians, nutritionists and professional athletes living with diabetes were also present at the stand to give recommendations on healthy diets and physical activity.

On 14 November, IDF Europe hosted a breakfast debate on “Healthy Eating, Healthy Living”, with a line-up of speakers including dieticians, food-policy experts and professional athletes living with diabetes. The event was attended by more than 50 participants (including MEPs, EU staff and other key stakeholders in the health sector in Europe).

During the debate, Sehnaz Karadeniz, IDF Europe President Elect, handed over the first IDF Europe Prize in Diabetes to APDP, the Portuguese Diabetes Association, for their outstanding contribution to the diabetes community.

On the same day, IDF Europe and Sodexo also distributed close to 1000 fruit cakes and fruit inside the EU Parliament in Brussels as part of an event called “Debunking the Sugar Myth”. The event aimed to break the myth that people with diabetes cannot eat sweets. As everybody else, they can have a little treat, while making sure to balance this with a healthy diet and regular physical activity.

The event was a real success and allowed IDF Europe to reach out to several thousand people, with more than 2840 vitality dishes sold during the week of awareness-raising activities at the restaurant of the EU Parliament in Brussels alone.